Wi-Fi is available in the main office area, to the south and the north.

This 46.6-acre Designated Urban Wilderness Area is a magnificent example of cypress and mixed cypress forest. Cypress trees 250 years old and 100 feet tall are common in the park, which also includes a scenic lake. Relatively undisturbed buffer areas of thick wild coffee, ferns, dahoon holly, cabbage palm, oak, and red maple shield the park, which is part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, from surrounding developed areas, making this a little oasis of nature just minutes from downtown Fort Lauderdale and Atlantic Ocean beaches.

Campground: Easterlin is known for its heavily wooded campground, which features 55 sites; 45 are full-hookup RV sites and 10 are tent sites.

All RV sites are equipped with:

electricity (20, 30, and 50 amps)

water

picnic tables

grills

sewer hookups

The 10 tent sites are all equipped with:

grills

picnic tables

fire rings

six sites offer water and electricity only

There are also two restrooms with heated showers in the campground area. Pets must be registered at check-in and must be kept on leashes no longer than six feet at all times when not inside the RV or tent. There is a two-pet limit per campsite, with proof of current vaccinations and appropriate licenses required. (For campers with pets, the City of Oakland Park's Oakland Bark dog park is within walking distance of Easterlin.)

You can now reserve campgrounds online by clicking:

Reservations booked 14 or fewer days in advance must be paid in full. Reservations booked 15 or more days in advance require a two-week deposit.

Potential campers should be aware that the campground is near a railroad, and train noise is common during the night and early-morning hours.

The campground is open year round but is especially busy from November through April; reservations are strongly recommended. A two-night deposit is required. When reserving a site, please advise us of the following:

Exact arrival and departure dates

Size and type of equipment (tent, trailer, van, motor home)

Number of people in your party

Number of vehicles you will have on your site

Number of pets you will be bringing and descriptions

Home address and phone number

Fees are based on residency, with residents of the tricounty area (Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties) receiving a discount. A driver's license and utility bill are acceptable as proof of residency.

Other restrictions: Only one camping unit is permitted per site. Regular stays are limited to 14 nights. Site fee includes one camping unit, one vehicle for transportation, and four people. Extra-person fee applies to each additional person 6 years of age and over and is limited to four additional persons. More than a total of eight persons is not permitted. There is no charge for children 5 years of age and under. Permit holder must be onsite during the duration of the stay.

Quiet hours are from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Only reported guests are permitted in campsites. Guests not registered as campers are subject to a weekend and holiday gate entry fee and must vacate the campground by 11 p.m. All park facilities close at dusk. Campers are restricted to the campground from dusk until 8 a.m. (except for travel to and from the front gate via the roadway). Campsites are not rented for parties or barbecues.

Primitive Youth Camping: The primitive campground area is set aside for the use of nonprofit organizations and is NOT available for family camping. All interested nonprofit organizations must book a reservation two weeks prior to the date of use. A fee will be charged per day/night - $1.50 plus tax per child and $2.50 plus tax per adult (18 and up). Youth-to-adult ratio must be no more than 10 youths to one adults. Group size is limited to 60. Only tent camping is permitted in this area. Reservations can be made by calling 954-357-5190.

Environmental and Scouting Programs: Getting people of all ages involved in the appreciation of nature is the focus of many of the programs at Easterlin Park. Opportunities include activities for boy and girl scouts, children's programs, school field trips, private group tours, and more. Call 954-357-5113 for details and to make reservations.

Groups/GatheringsLarge group gatherings of 250 or more persons require prior Park approval and issuance of a Park Permit to address such items as reserving space for the group, traffic control, trash removal/cleanup deposit, etc.

Woodland Nature Trail: This approximately one-mile, horseshoe-shaped trail takes visitors back in time. As the trail winds through the park's cypress forest, which is dotted with towering royal palms flanked by acres of ferns, visitors get a sense of "old Florida" as the picturesque scene of a centuries-old Florida landscape takes shape. The historic Middle River plays a vital role in the wetland lining the western portion of the trail, benefitting the bald cypress, red maple, and pond apple trees by aiding in the dispersal and germination of their seeds. As the trail meanders east, ferns, mushrooms, lichens, and bromeliads abound. Keep a lookout for the animals that reside throughout the Woodland Trail area, such as gopher tortoises, white ibises, owls, woodpeckers, and various species of butterflies, including ruddy daggerwing.

Geocaching: Geocaching is a worldwide treasure hunt using Global Positioning System (GPS) devices. The first clue is a set of GPS coordinates, corresponding to where someone has hidden a "treasure," or geocache. Geocaches can come in all shapes and sizes and can even be virtual. If you are interested in geocaching and want to know more, please visit our Geocaching Web page.

If you plan to geocache in Easterlin Park, you can use the following GPS coordinates to search for geocaches in the park: 26.17028, -80.16327. Please be aware of the following guidelines that apply to geocaching at Easterlin Park in addition to the guidelines set forth on the Geocaching Web page:

No pets are allowed on the nature trails.

Please stay on nature trails and do not stray from the path.

Geocaching in campgrounds is restricted to campers only.

Foot traffic only.

Disc Golf Course: 18 holes. Free, although you must bring your own gear. The park will provide course maps and score cards. The course is available for special events. Call 954-357-5190 for more information.

Picnic Tables/Grills: Freestanding picnic tables with grills are located near the playground and throughout the front of the park and are available free on a first-come, first-served basis. Bounce houses and balloons are not permitted in these areas.

A Little History: Broward County's first inland regional park was originally acquired in 1944, when it was known as Cypress Park because of the distinctive trees that cover much of the area. The park opened to the public in January 1965 and was later named after John D. Easterlin, a Broward County commissioner who was characterized as independent and outspoken. Easterlin died in 1968. (Photo courtesy of the Broward County Historical Commission)